Tuesday, August 28, 2007

Good morning! This is the day that the Lord has made, I will rejoice and be glad in it. My prayer is that you had a great day yesterday, and looking forward to the blessings of this day. God is faithful!

The past few days I have been meditating on a thought that God is developing into a sermon in my heart. I really felt directed of the Holy Spirit to share a little of this thought on today’s blog.

In I Kings 18, Elijah has just seen miracles happen through his ministry. He prayed for fire to fall from heaven and it did. He prayed for it to rain for the first time in three and half years, and it did. He was so anointed that he outran King Ahab’s chariot as they both traveled to a place named Jezreel. However, as we look in chapter 19, things have ALL OF A SUDDEN changed for him. He went from an extreme spiritual high, to an extreme spiritual low. Life is like that at times, isn’t it? Your situation can change in a moment, without any warning whatsoever. That is exactly where we find Elijah. King Ahab’s wife Jezebel has said that she was going to kill Elijah. So, literally in a matter of MINUTES he went from running in victory, to running for his life.

Where does he run to? Please read this verse carefully:

1 Kings 19:4 (MSG) and then went on into the desert another day's journey. He came to a lone broom bush and collapsed in its shade, wanting in the worst way to be done with it all--to just die: "Enough of this, GOD! Take my life--I'm ready to join my ancestors in the grave!"

He was so upset, frustrated, depressed, disappointed, angry…you pick one, and that’s what he was. I’m sure he was even questioning why he had to go through this struggle. He had been faithful, so why all of this pain? Have you ever been there before? When you have been trying to do everything RIGHT, but things just keep coming up WRONG it seems? God’s Word is going to speak to you today.

Do you know WHY Elijah wanted to die? You will find the reason in following passage:

1 Kings 19:9-10 When he got there, he crawled into a cave and went to sleep. Then the word of GOD came to him: "So Elijah, what are you doing here?" (10) "I've been working my heart out for the GOD-of-the-Angel-Armies," said Elijah. "The people of Israel have abandoned your covenant, destroyed the places of worship, and murdered your prophets. I'm the only one left, and now they're trying to kill me."

Did you notice the problem? Elijah BELIEVED that he was the only one of God’s prophets left. Elijah truly believed that there wasn’t a GODLY man left on earth, but himself, and now the enemy was trying to kill him as well. This brought so much distress into his life, that he crawled into a cave and was just determined to stay there and not come out.

I believe that there are some today that feel exactly like Elijah. Where’s that cave God? I’m going to join Elijah. Or, maybe you are already there. Your thoughts are, “Just let me die God. My life is no good, so you might as well take it.” Do you know what the problem with that is? You are PROCESSING THE WRONG DATA. That is what happened to Elijah. Listen to what God tells him:

I Kings 19:18 (MSG) Meanwhile, I'm preserving for myself seven thousand souls: the knees that haven't bowed to the god Baal, the mouths that haven't kissed his image."

God tells Elijah to come out of the cave and go to work. He gave him instructions to go and anoint a young man by the name of Elisha as his replacement who would give him much needed help and encouragement. If he had stayed in the cave, or if he had DIED, God wouldn’t have been able to fulfill His purpose in Elijah’s life, and it goes further than that. It would have affected Elisha as well. The young prophet who needed someone to learn from and to look up to, would have been devastated and lost without Elijah.

It is so sad to me that Elijah wanted to die because he THOUGHT he was the only one left. He was depressed and ready to give up because he was PROCESSING THE WRONG DATA! He was messed up because his THINKING was messed up. God had to get the TRUTH into his mind and thoughts. It is amazing how godly men and women allow the enemy to deposit WRONG DATA in our minds, and then we allow that to become our driving force in life.

You feel like a loser because someone told you that you would always be a loser, and never amount to anything in life. Was the person that spoke that over you God? Were they a prophet of God? Could they see the future? They couldn’t see past that day, so how could they determine your FUTURE? They couldn’t! However, they have affected your future because you have been PROCESSING THE WRONG DATA. God doesn’t call you a loser, He calls you a winner, and you are MORE THAN A CONQUEROR according to Romans 8:37.

Someone reading this today may be saying, “This marriage is never going to work. I don’t DESERVE to be happy.” You are making a decision that is based on WRONG DATA. We must get our thinking straightened out. We need the MIND OF CHRIST (I Corinthians 2:16)

There have been people that quit church because their thinking says, “No one cares about me.” My friend, that is a lie that the enemy has deposited into your spirit, and you have been processing the WRONG DATA, so you are about to make a wrong decision. You don’t know the whole story. Ask God to help you get your thinking straightened out!

“Well, we will never get out of this financial mess.” Really? Who told you that? Where did that come from? Is that God speaking into your life? Or are you processing the wrong data. Don’t die in a cave, when God has so much more for you and your life.

Some may be thinking, “There really is NO REASON for me to live. No one will miss me if I were to die anyway.” When did God give you the ability to see the future? Do you really know what your life will be like in one year or two years? How about ten or twenty? You see my friend, you are processing the wrong data. The enemy has made a deposit into your mind just like he did Elijah’s. You have MUCH to live for, even if you can't see it right now because your thinking is skewed because of FALSE data.

Naaman in the Old Testament had leprosy and God told him through the prophet Elisha to go into the dirtiest river around, the Jordan, seven times and he would be healed. He almost didn’t do it because he was processing the WRONG DATA. Read the following and see how he responded:

2 Kings 5:10-12 Elisha sent out a servant to meet him with this message: "Go to the River Jordan and immerse yourself seven times. Your skin will be healed and you'll be as good as new." (11) Naaman lost his temper. He turned on his heel saying, "I thought he'd personally come out and meet me, call on the name of GOD, wave his hand over the diseased spot, and get rid of the disease. (12) The Damascus rivers, Abana and Pharpar, are cleaner by far than any of the rivers in Israel. Why not bathe in them? I'd at least get clean." He stomped off, mad as a hornet.

His thinking was messed up. He THOUGHT that Elisha would come out and “wave his hand over the diseased spot, and get rid of the disease.” Because of wrong data in his mind, he stomped off angry and almost missed out on the miracle that God had for him. He would have DIED because or what he was processing in his mind. If it hadn’t been for his servant girl that talked some sense into him, he would have missed out on victory. I could go on and on, and I might share a few more examples tomorrow.

My question for you today is, “Is there an area of your life where the enemy is trying to TALK YOU out of a victory that God has for you.” Have you had thoughts like, “it’s never going to get any better” or “I don’t deserve things to get better, I’ve made too many mistakes.” How about, “No one cares about me.” These are just a few examples of how the enemy works hard at getting us to PROCESS the WRONG DATA.

My prayer for you today is that you come out of your cave BY FATH, and remember what God says about you. He calls you the apple of His eye, more than a conqueror, the head and not the tail, He also promises that He will never leave your or forsake you. He sees you today, even in that cave of discouragement and despair and he is asking, WHAT ARE YOU DOING THERE? Will you answer His question today, like Elijah did? When you do, ask the Holy Spirit to show you the WRONG DATA that you have been processing and change it TODAY.

Meditate on Jeremiah 29:11 for a little while today. Meditate just means to dwell on, and to think on. I have it in the Amplified and the Message version. This verse is God talking directly to you:

Jeremiah 29:11 (AMP) For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, thoughts and plans for welfare and peace and not for evil, to give you hope in your final outcome.

(MSG) I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out--plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.

God bless you all. I love you and thank God for you (Philippians 1:2-6). Please feel free to comment on this blog if you would like. Also, if you need to talk with someone about this blog, please email me. I would love to talk and pray with you!

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comments:

Anonymous
said...

Jeremiah 29:11 (AMP) For I know the thoughts and plans that I have for you, says the Lord, ...(MSG) I know what I'm doing. I have it all planned out--plans to take care of you, not abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for.

Pastor Rusty - these verses really hit home for us as Douglas and his brothers are struggling daily with the ordeals related to their Mother's progressive deterioration from Alztheimers. She was the glue that held them together, prayed with them, loved them unconditionally. They struggle daily trying to not question God but to understand why she suffers. God is working wonders in the lives of these strong men who are weakened by their Mom's frailty.

Thanks for sharing your heart and touching out lives through Christ in ways that we are enjoying tremendously. Even us "old time" Baptist girls are being blessed. God doesn't care what church we attend, He only wants us to use our gifts and talents for Him. My prayer is that Douglas and I know without a shadow of a doubt that God is using us for his honor and glory.

Thanks so much for putting these blogs out each day. I come into work each morning, watching and waiting for 10:00 so I can read what you have for us each day. I have to admit, your devotions are creating in me a hunger for the word of God as never before. Thanks for being our "Shephard Under the Ultimate SHEPHARD" (I believe that's what you called yourself Sunday)and feeding us along with keeping us in the pasture (WORD - Jesus) that will guide us and give us spritual nourishment that we need on a daily basis not to mention showing us boundaries that we don't need to stray from and to stay next to the SHEPHARD.

All of this is right where I am right now. I am having problems with a child and believe me I want to go into a cave and die myself but, I know I cant. I have to pick myself up and keep on trying to guide her in the right way. But with all that is going on with her I cant seem to hear from God right now. So I guess I am asking yall to pray for my family so I can hear God and what he wants me to do.

Angel, Please know that we will certainly be praying for you. Even Elijah had a hard time hearing from God at first. He searched for God in several different ways, and FINALLY God spoke to Him in that still small voice. I know that in HIS time God will do the same for you. I love you guys! God bless!

I must say that when you said this Sunday night, it home with me. Like Elijah, I just want to go on because the storm is so great & the waves are too big to beat. This particular storm has lasted for so long that I get weary from fighting back everyday...BUT GOD!!!RIGHT!!!! I was reminded yet again that He is right here by me & that He has not forgotten me. He has seen every tear & is presently working on this storm no matter what I "see" or "feel". PRAISE GOD!!! My husband has now joined me in the fight...where 2 or more are gathered!!! GOD IS SO GOOD!!!! I greatly appreciate you being so senitive to the Holy Spirit in every single sermon. I come to every service expecting to hear from God and I do!!! Thank you so much for allowing God to use you as a vessel!!!!

I've also created a shortcut for Pat to log on with ease and she LOVES your blog too!! It has helped all of us in ways that we can never put into words!!!

Pastor, I've figured out how to post (Yippee). **Angel...I'm covering you and your family in prayer** Pastor, thank you for your obedience in following the leading of the Spirit of God. I can identify with Elijah under the tree and in the cave. But, like Elijah, I had to come out. I love the Lord with all that is within me and I'm thankful that He was patient with me like He was with Elijah. I'm thankful for His faithfulness to those who are faithful to Him. Thanks for being mine and my family's Pastor. Your time and words of encouragement are priceless to us and we appreciate you very much!!!Resting in His Grace and Mercy,Cindi